A brain scan study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences pinpoints the changes associated with child abuse that may raise people’s risk of depression, addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, later in life.

Overall, about 25% of participants had suffered major depression at some point in their lives and 7% had been diagnosed with PTSD. But among the 16% of participants who had suffered three or more types of child maltreatment — for example, physical abuse, neglect and verbal abuse — the situation was much worse. Most of them — 53% — had suffered depression and 40% had had full or partial PTSD.

Even among the most resilient survivors, the aftereffects of abuse may linger. Not only are such children at later risk for mental illness, but because of the way trauma affects the stress system, they are also more vulnerable to developing chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

We can do better for our kids.

Based on an article at healthland.time.com. See also the related article “Belittling kids as harmful as beating, study finds” at www.cnn.com.